Assuming we get reasonably healthy, DC United is in pretty good shape in the midfield. Clyde Simms showed well in the D-Mid role, and got himself a fatter contract as a result. On the left flank we have Guererro, who has shown he can flat-out play. In the middle we have Marcelo 'El Muneco' Gallardo, who I reallly hope gets healthy and maintains form. On the right we have the Brazilian Fred, who I have always liked.
Up front I hope we have a healthy Jaime Moreno and a healthy Luciano Emilio. I think with Moreno's age he'll have to be used as a pure striker and not so much as a MF/F. Get him or Emilio the ball in the box and let them take care of the rest.
I neglected to mention in my previous post that there is some defensive help in the offing. Janicki, a pickup from the minor leage Pittsburgh Riverhounds, has been a revelation. He appears to my untrained eye as one who is capable of starting in defense on the MLS level.
Wednesday, December 24, 2008
Tuesday, December 23, 2008
Whither DC United?
So, where does DC United go from here?
Like Stanford, DCU needs help in the back. The club has given up on Columbian defender Gonzalo Martinez. When the club was winning last summer I thought Martinez was playing very well. Even before that, when the club was losing, I thought Martinez more often than not was one of the bright spots.
But, like the club, Gonzalo faded down the stretch. The club has also apparently given up on Argentine defender Gonzalo Peralta. Last I heard they were trying to bring him back, but on a lower salary. Read into that what you will. What I read into that is he is either not coming back at all, or he is coming back but as a substitute. The question remains: Who will anchor our backline?
Of course, our bggest need is to get people healthy. Injuries are what did us in last year more than anything.
In a subsequent post I'll comment on the situation in the midfield. After that, we'll assess our prospects up front.
Like Stanford, DCU needs help in the back. The club has given up on Columbian defender Gonzalo Martinez. When the club was winning last summer I thought Martinez was playing very well. Even before that, when the club was losing, I thought Martinez more often than not was one of the bright spots.
But, like the club, Gonzalo faded down the stretch. The club has also apparently given up on Argentine defender Gonzalo Peralta. Last I heard they were trying to bring him back, but on a lower salary. Read into that what you will. What I read into that is he is either not coming back at all, or he is coming back but as a substitute. The question remains: Who will anchor our backline?
Of course, our bggest need is to get people healthy. Injuries are what did us in last year more than anything.
In a subsequent post I'll comment on the situation in the midfield. After that, we'll assess our prospects up front.
Monday, December 22, 2008
Whither Stanford?
Where does the Stanford womens' soccer team go from here?
Well, I'd say they are in pretty good shape. They challenged for the Cup this past season. They have achieved the status of an elite program, and are poised stay in the hunt.
If I am reading their roster correctly, they apparently lose two starting senior defenders in Falk and Abegg. Instead of throwing freshmen in there, maybe they can have a couple experienced D-Mids slide to the backline.
They might also try, as I said previously, to put KO in as central attacking midfielder charged with serving balls to the forwards as well as getting some goals herself. She has good vision and anticipation, she can hold the ball in traffic, and she makes nice, accurate, crisp passes to runners in or entering high-value space.
The problem is, I doubt the Stanford coach will do it. There seems to be a pervading mentality in college soccer that attacking midfield needs to be done by committee. College coaches seem to be loath to have one Carlos Valderrama. That is why, in college soccer, the #10 shirt doesn't really mean anything. It's just another number. College coaches seem more comfortable with multiple Steve Ralstons than one Carlos Valderrama. That is not a slight against a fine player like Steve Ralston. If you have multiple Ralstons, of course you play them. But if you have one Carlos Valderrama you play him, and you play him in position. If you have some Ralstons also, al the better, but they would play in support of your Valderrama.
One big way to improve as a team is to play at their high level but play even faster. The very best teams in the country from the UNC's to the UND's to the UCLAs reaaallly struggled when Stanford would start to swoop and swarm and play very fast with accurate passes with pace on them. The build-up to KO's tying goal against UNC during the regular season is an example of what I am talking about. Movement, movement, movement, both on the ball and off. This is one of Stanford's strengths they can build on by doing it faster.
Defensively, Stanford can pressure the ball better. Of course, its easy to make a "genius" statement like that. It is like saying a company ought "to improve its cash flow". The question is, "How?". Well, in this regard, Stanford can learn from the final four match against UND. UND pressured the ball extremely well, and they did it an a very coordinated fashion. A a result, Stanford felt the heat the entire game, and this was a big barrier to Stanford finding the back of the net. For example, Stanford wide midfielders repeatedly found themselves surrounded by a pressuring midfielder, a high pressuring defender, with strikers often checking back to help out. UND was well organized positionally. Everyone knew what their defensive assignments were, and they carried them out very efficiently.
Well, I'd say they are in pretty good shape. They challenged for the Cup this past season. They have achieved the status of an elite program, and are poised stay in the hunt.
If I am reading their roster correctly, they apparently lose two starting senior defenders in Falk and Abegg. Instead of throwing freshmen in there, maybe they can have a couple experienced D-Mids slide to the backline.
They might also try, as I said previously, to put KO in as central attacking midfielder charged with serving balls to the forwards as well as getting some goals herself. She has good vision and anticipation, she can hold the ball in traffic, and she makes nice, accurate, crisp passes to runners in or entering high-value space.
The problem is, I doubt the Stanford coach will do it. There seems to be a pervading mentality in college soccer that attacking midfield needs to be done by committee. College coaches seem to be loath to have one Carlos Valderrama. That is why, in college soccer, the #10 shirt doesn't really mean anything. It's just another number. College coaches seem more comfortable with multiple Steve Ralstons than one Carlos Valderrama. That is not a slight against a fine player like Steve Ralston. If you have multiple Ralstons, of course you play them. But if you have one Carlos Valderrama you play him, and you play him in position. If you have some Ralstons also, al the better, but they would play in support of your Valderrama.
One big way to improve as a team is to play at their high level but play even faster. The very best teams in the country from the UNC's to the UND's to the UCLAs reaaallly struggled when Stanford would start to swoop and swarm and play very fast with accurate passes with pace on them. The build-up to KO's tying goal against UNC during the regular season is an example of what I am talking about. Movement, movement, movement, both on the ball and off. This is one of Stanford's strengths they can build on by doing it faster.
Defensively, Stanford can pressure the ball better. Of course, its easy to make a "genius" statement like that. It is like saying a company ought "to improve its cash flow". The question is, "How?". Well, in this regard, Stanford can learn from the final four match against UND. UND pressured the ball extremely well, and they did it an a very coordinated fashion. A a result, Stanford felt the heat the entire game, and this was a big barrier to Stanford finding the back of the net. For example, Stanford wide midfielders repeatedly found themselves surrounded by a pressuring midfielder, a high pressuring defender, with strikers often checking back to help out. UND was well organized positionally. Everyone knew what their defensive assignments were, and they carried them out very efficiently.
Thursday, December 18, 2008
Tuesday, December 16, 2008
NSR...
...not soccer related,
but this kid is excellent. At 7 years old he is already soloing in front of an orchestra, and he already has that trumpet players' swagger.
but this kid is excellent. At 7 years old he is already soloing in front of an orchestra, and he already has that trumpet players' swagger.
Monday, December 15, 2008
Terps Take Two
The Maryland Terrapins mens program wins another College Cup. I say, if Virginia Tech ain't in it, and UVA ain't in it, but if the Terps ARE in it, Go Terps.
The Men's College Cup did not have a lot of attractive soccer, and the NCAA's inexplicable decision to host the thing in Frisco Texas, of all places, meant the matches would be played in front of a few hundred relatives, scouts, MLS coaches and hard-core partisans in a stadium that holds 20,000+.
But none of that means it is easy to win the thing. Congrats, Maryland.
Monday, December 8, 2008
Stanford 0:1 UND
In my pre-game analysis, I said:
"Stanford needs to fly from the get-go, play fast and incisively, maintain possession, and stretch the field. All three strikers need to get the ball in or near the box and run at people. Midfielders, that means they need service and that means you. All SU's attackers need to take a page from Kelley O'Hara's book and take shots on the volley, because at this level you don't always have time to trap, set, and shoot. I say let 'er rip. All of Stanford's strikers and a-mids need to be menacing. They need to run at people, they need to shoot. Pressure the UND backline and I think they will eventually tire and break. Defensively, Stanford needs to mark the UND strikers out of the match, deny their CAM the ball, and keep things wide."
Taking it a thought or so at a time:
Stanford needs to fly from the get-go, play fast and incisively, maintain possession, and stretch the field.
Stanford did come out flying, and UND struggled a bit as a result. But after 12 minutes or so UND began to pressure the ball well, and get some possession of its own. Stanford had trouble playing sharply and incisively in its attacking third. SU stretched the field but could have used even more support from the flanks in the form of overlapping runs.
All three strikers need to get the ball in or near the box and run at people. Midfielders, that means they need service and that means you. All SU's attackers need to take a page from Kelley O'Hara's book and take shots on the volley, because at this level you don't always have time to trap, set, and shoot. I say let 'er rip. All of Stanford's strikers and a-mids need to be menacing. They need to run at people, they need to shoot. Pressure the UND backline and I think they will eventually tire and break.
Kelly O'Hara terrorized their backline all game long and was unlucky not to get on the scoresheet. KO was the only forward who was not intimidated by the UND backline and ran at them with abandon. Levin was largely ineffective. Taylor was tracking way back into midfield for the ball, contributed defensively with several nice check-backs and takeaways, but her offensive runs were stymied. Several midfielders with space approaching the final third elected not to dribble but make passes into the heavily fortified UND bunker. I believe if you have space and the ball, run at people. Make them come out and defend you. You still have the option to pass into the box, and likely there will be fewer defenders there once you do. Things went better as the second half went on, as SU threw numbers forward. Alas, real chances were right at the keeper.
Defensively, Stanford needs to mark the UND strikers out of the match, deny their CAM the ball, and keep things wide.
Stanford was successful defensively. They held UND to one goal, and other than that one forgivable lapse they absolutely shut down the UND offense. The Stanford defense was nothing short of heroic.
All in all, two pretty evenly matched teams, and this particular time Stanford came out on the short end. Alas, in a single-elimination tournament, that means you go home.
"Stanford needs to fly from the get-go, play fast and incisively, maintain possession, and stretch the field. All three strikers need to get the ball in or near the box and run at people. Midfielders, that means they need service and that means you. All SU's attackers need to take a page from Kelley O'Hara's book and take shots on the volley, because at this level you don't always have time to trap, set, and shoot. I say let 'er rip. All of Stanford's strikers and a-mids need to be menacing. They need to run at people, they need to shoot. Pressure the UND backline and I think they will eventually tire and break. Defensively, Stanford needs to mark the UND strikers out of the match, deny their CAM the ball, and keep things wide."
Taking it a thought or so at a time:
Stanford needs to fly from the get-go, play fast and incisively, maintain possession, and stretch the field.
Stanford did come out flying, and UND struggled a bit as a result. But after 12 minutes or so UND began to pressure the ball well, and get some possession of its own. Stanford had trouble playing sharply and incisively in its attacking third. SU stretched the field but could have used even more support from the flanks in the form of overlapping runs.
All three strikers need to get the ball in or near the box and run at people. Midfielders, that means they need service and that means you. All SU's attackers need to take a page from Kelley O'Hara's book and take shots on the volley, because at this level you don't always have time to trap, set, and shoot. I say let 'er rip. All of Stanford's strikers and a-mids need to be menacing. They need to run at people, they need to shoot. Pressure the UND backline and I think they will eventually tire and break.
Kelly O'Hara terrorized their backline all game long and was unlucky not to get on the scoresheet. KO was the only forward who was not intimidated by the UND backline and ran at them with abandon. Levin was largely ineffective. Taylor was tracking way back into midfield for the ball, contributed defensively with several nice check-backs and takeaways, but her offensive runs were stymied. Several midfielders with space approaching the final third elected not to dribble but make passes into the heavily fortified UND bunker. I believe if you have space and the ball, run at people. Make them come out and defend you. You still have the option to pass into the box, and likely there will be fewer defenders there once you do. Things went better as the second half went on, as SU threw numbers forward. Alas, real chances were right at the keeper.
Defensively, Stanford needs to mark the UND strikers out of the match, deny their CAM the ball, and keep things wide.
Stanford was successful defensively. They held UND to one goal, and other than that one forgivable lapse they absolutely shut down the UND offense. The Stanford defense was nothing short of heroic.
All in all, two pretty evenly matched teams, and this particular time Stanford came out on the short end. Alas, in a single-elimination tournament, that means you go home.
Wednesday, December 3, 2008
Good Football and Good Music
Years have gone by and I've finally learned to accept myself for who I am: a beggar for good football. I go about the world, hand outstretched, and in
the stadiums I plead: "A pretty move [please...]."And when good football
happens, I give thanks for the miracle and I don't [care] which team or
country performs it. Eduardo Galeano
I have to admit I feel that way not only about futbol, but about music. Today I had a hankering to find a video of a great performance of Chopin's Polonaise in A Flat Major. I really tried to find a good combination of flawless technical playing together with tremendous depth of artistry and feeling.
Naturally, I first went to Horowitz:
Ah, that is artistry par excellence. Oh, my, it was soaring, it was sublime, it was just heart-meltingly beautiful. Ah, but I could not help but to note that by the time this video was made, Horowitz was well on in years, and he makes minor technical misses in 8 or 10 places.
So, I pulled up a video of Rubinstein playing the same piece, and again the artistry was powerful, but it was not technically flawless. And so my search continued, looking at some younger players who played more cleanly, but artisitcally they did not really know what they were doing, so once again I felt as if I were missing something.
Maybe I need to look at music a little more like I look at soccer. After all, I have never seen a soccer ball perfectly struck, but I have seen many that were very beautifully and sumptuously struck. I have never seen a perfect dribbling display, but Maradona's famous syncopated slalom through the England defense in World Cup 1986, though perhaps not technically perfect down to the millimeter, was nonetheless, a masterpiece.
At some point you have to let the flaws vanish, and then all you are left with is something dazzling.
I think I'll watch that Horowitz video again.
Saturday, November 29, 2008
The Usual Suspects
The NCAA Women's College Cup finalists have been set, and as I and undoubtedly many others predicted, all four number one seeds are still standing.
One semifinal is UCLA - UNC and I have to go with UNC simply because UNC has no weaknesses, while UCLA is a little suspect in the back, and has a bit of a propensity to pass the ball to the other team in their own half. Throw in the fact that UNC is essentially playing at home means we are looking at a 2-1 result in UNC's favor.
The other semi is Stanford - Notre Dame. Notre Dame is good, as I have said. But I have a good feeling about this one in Stanford's favor. Based on what I have seen, Notre Dame is not as technically sophisticated as Stanford. I think Stanford has the edge in terms of team speed. I also wonder about the conditioning of some of the UND players, as the team seems to visibly tire 10 minutes or so before the end of each half.
Stanford needs to fly from the get-go, play fast and incisively, maintain possession, and stretch the field. All three strikers need to get the ball in or near the box and run at people. Midfielders, that means they need service and that means you. All SU's attackers need to take a page from Kelley O'Hara's book and take shots on the volley, because at this level you don't always have time to trap, set, and shoot. I say let 'er rip. All of Stanford's strikers and a-mids need to be menacing. They need to run at people, they need to shoot. Pressure the UND backline and I think they will eventually tire and break. Defensively, Stanford needs to mark the UND strikers out of the match, deny their CAM the ball, and keep things wide.
If Stanford plays to Stanford's strengths, I believe Stanford will win this match.
One semifinal is UCLA - UNC and I have to go with UNC simply because UNC has no weaknesses, while UCLA is a little suspect in the back, and has a bit of a propensity to pass the ball to the other team in their own half. Throw in the fact that UNC is essentially playing at home means we are looking at a 2-1 result in UNC's favor.
The other semi is Stanford - Notre Dame. Notre Dame is good, as I have said. But I have a good feeling about this one in Stanford's favor. Based on what I have seen, Notre Dame is not as technically sophisticated as Stanford. I think Stanford has the edge in terms of team speed. I also wonder about the conditioning of some of the UND players, as the team seems to visibly tire 10 minutes or so before the end of each half.
Stanford needs to fly from the get-go, play fast and incisively, maintain possession, and stretch the field. All three strikers need to get the ball in or near the box and run at people. Midfielders, that means they need service and that means you. All SU's attackers need to take a page from Kelley O'Hara's book and take shots on the volley, because at this level you don't always have time to trap, set, and shoot. I say let 'er rip. All of Stanford's strikers and a-mids need to be menacing. They need to run at people, they need to shoot. Pressure the UND backline and I think they will eventually tire and break. Defensively, Stanford needs to mark the UND strikers out of the match, deny their CAM the ball, and keep things wide.
If Stanford plays to Stanford's strengths, I believe Stanford will win this match.
Tuesday, November 25, 2008
MLS Cup Recap
I DVR'd the MLS Cup and got up at midnight Monday morning and watched it.
All in all it was a pretty good game. But from a presentation standpoint I have to say two things: First, Alexi Lalas in the studio does not work. When he shotgunned a can of Red Bull and proceeded to spill half of it all over his suit that was it for me. He had even less substantive to say that Julie Foudy, and that is saying something. He has to go.
Also, since the game was between the New York and Columbus clubs and was held in Carson California, there were too many visible empty seats. MLS simply must stop this "Championship Game Must Be Held at a Neutral Site" nonsense. This game should have been played in Columbus in a packed, loud stadium. That is how you market a soccer league.
The goals were nice. The first was good, but not great. Moreno slows his marker by faking middle, then turns on the jets and beats him into the box, where 'keeper Cepero badly overcomitted to the near post and gets beaten by a well-placed far post bid.
The equaliser by Wolniec was quality. Dane Richards torches three defenders (again) and puts a sweet through-ball to Wolniec which he toes home. That was some nice soccer.
The third goal was great, a thing of beauty, instigated by the dazzling Guillermo Barros Schelotto, who plays on a higher plane than almost everyone else in the league. That chip was just sheer greatness straight from the crucible that is the highest levels of Argentine club soccer. Freddy Hejduk, who is not to be confused with the GEICO caveman, simply had to run under it and gently head over the keeper.
There was little doubt in my mind Columbus would win this game. They are clearly the best side in MLS right now. A BigSoccer analyst and Columbus partisan said Columbus played some of the most elegant soccer ever seen in MLS. Well, I'll give him a pass. Columbus played very well. They won, and by and large they won in workmanlike fashion. If they add more players of Schelotto's quality to their roster, then maybe we can start talking about soccer elegance. But that is for another day. Congrats to the Crew, and here's to hoping now they can start getting more than 13,000 people to show up at their home games.
All in all it was a pretty good game. But from a presentation standpoint I have to say two things: First, Alexi Lalas in the studio does not work. When he shotgunned a can of Red Bull and proceeded to spill half of it all over his suit that was it for me. He had even less substantive to say that Julie Foudy, and that is saying something. He has to go.
Also, since the game was between the New York and Columbus clubs and was held in Carson California, there were too many visible empty seats. MLS simply must stop this "Championship Game Must Be Held at a Neutral Site" nonsense. This game should have been played in Columbus in a packed, loud stadium. That is how you market a soccer league.
The goals were nice. The first was good, but not great. Moreno slows his marker by faking middle, then turns on the jets and beats him into the box, where 'keeper Cepero badly overcomitted to the near post and gets beaten by a well-placed far post bid.
The equaliser by Wolniec was quality. Dane Richards torches three defenders (again) and puts a sweet through-ball to Wolniec which he toes home. That was some nice soccer.
The third goal was great, a thing of beauty, instigated by the dazzling Guillermo Barros Schelotto, who plays on a higher plane than almost everyone else in the league. That chip was just sheer greatness straight from the crucible that is the highest levels of Argentine club soccer. Freddy Hejduk, who is not to be confused with the GEICO caveman, simply had to run under it and gently head over the keeper.
There was little doubt in my mind Columbus would win this game. They are clearly the best side in MLS right now. A BigSoccer analyst and Columbus partisan said Columbus played some of the most elegant soccer ever seen in MLS. Well, I'll give him a pass. Columbus played very well. They won, and by and large they won in workmanlike fashion. If they add more players of Schelotto's quality to their roster, then maybe we can start talking about soccer elegance. But that is for another day. Congrats to the Crew, and here's to hoping now they can start getting more than 13,000 people to show up at their home games.
NCAA WCC: The Quarters
In the Notre Dame Bracket, as I thought, we are looking at ND vs. FSU. ND has not scored as much as I thought they would enroute to this point. Neither has FSU. FSU is a quality side, no doubt, but ND just has too many weapons. They just find a way to win, and I think they will against FSU. So, from this bracket, it is UND to the Final Four.
Also, as I predicted, we have a Quarters matchup between Stanford and Portland. Portland knows how to play soccer. Stanford knows how to play soccer, too, and they are at home. Make no mistake, Portland is entirely capable of winning this game, but I like Stanford at home. I am gonna go with 2-1 Stanford with goals from Lindsay Taylor and Kelley O'Hara. Stanford rolls on to the Final Four.
Over in the UCLA bracket, I thought it would be UCLA-UVA, but it is UCLA-Duke. UCLA wins 2-0 with goals in each half to go to the Final Four.
And then we have the UNC bracket. I thought it would be UNC-UF, but I was wrong about UF and UNC's next victim is Texas A&M. As they say in New York, fuhgeddaboudit, UNC wins 3-0 and clears their bench in the second half. UNC goes to the Final Four. All in a day's work for them.
Any one of my predicted Final Four is entirely capable of winning it all. UNC is essentially playing at home, which is not good for the other three teams. But, lets get there first.
Also, as I predicted, we have a Quarters matchup between Stanford and Portland. Portland knows how to play soccer. Stanford knows how to play soccer, too, and they are at home. Make no mistake, Portland is entirely capable of winning this game, but I like Stanford at home. I am gonna go with 2-1 Stanford with goals from Lindsay Taylor and Kelley O'Hara. Stanford rolls on to the Final Four.
Over in the UCLA bracket, I thought it would be UCLA-UVA, but it is UCLA-Duke. UCLA wins 2-0 with goals in each half to go to the Final Four.
And then we have the UNC bracket. I thought it would be UNC-UF, but I was wrong about UF and UNC's next victim is Texas A&M. As they say in New York, fuhgeddaboudit, UNC wins 3-0 and clears their bench in the second half. UNC goes to the Final Four. All in a day's work for them.
Any one of my predicted Final Four is entirely capable of winning it all. UNC is essentially playing at home, which is not good for the other three teams. But, lets get there first.
Saturday, November 22, 2008
Stanford Through to Next Round
Stanford, by means of a hard fough 1-0 scoreline over visiting Rutgers, is through to the round of 8. I knew this would be a tough match, and it was. Stanford maintained possession but Rutgers, who I knew would defend like all-get-out, kept a clean sheet until Stanford's biggest big-time player, Kelley O'Hara, does what big-time players do and that is put the ball in the back of the net and win the game with 4:46 remaining.
An analyst on bigsoccer rated Rutgers at something like 35th based on a theoretical relative strength statistics algorithm. This game is a prime example of why, come tournament time, you throw all that out and let the players play the game. My relative strength calcuation on the night came out at the end with Stanford #1, and Rutgers #2. That is the ranking that goes into the brackets, which show Stanford going to the next round to a probable matchup against Portland.
An analyst on bigsoccer rated Rutgers at something like 35th based on a theoretical relative strength statistics algorithm. This game is a prime example of why, come tournament time, you throw all that out and let the players play the game. My relative strength calcuation on the night came out at the end with Stanford #1, and Rutgers #2. That is the ranking that goes into the brackets, which show Stanford going to the next round to a probable matchup against Portland.
Wednesday, November 12, 2008
WCC 2008 - My Brackets
Posted herewith are my picks for the 2008 Womens College Cup. Any one of my projected final four are entirely capable of winning this thing. A few others are, as well.
Notre Dame is really, really good. They are good tactically. They have skilled, fast players. But they can also get after you and grind the daylights out of you. They can finesse you and score goals, or they can ram the ball down your throat and score goals.
UCLA is UCLA. They are fast, and thy are tall. They play some good soccer despite some occasional sloppy passing. You better play fast against these folks or you will be toast.
UNC is the perennial powerhouse. For them, winning the College Cup equals a successful season, anything else is a failure. They have US National teamers who you'd better contain or you will be in a hole, futilely chasing the game.
Stanford is probably the best pure soccer-side in the entire tournament. They have loads of flamboyant firepower up front. Top to bottom they have the best strikers in the country. Their a-mids can kill you, too.
Notre Dame Bracket
First Round Winners/2nd Round Matchups
UND-MSU; Minn-Col; BC-NEastern; Auburn-FSU
3rd Round
UND-Col; BC-FSU
Quarters
UND-FSU
Stanford Bracket
1st Round Winners/2nd Round Matchups
UP-Wash St.; UGA-WFU; OSU-Rutg; Den-Stanford
3rd Round
UP-WFU; Rutgers-Stanford
Quarters
UP-Stanford
UCLA Bracket
First Round Winners/2nd Round Matchups
UCLA-LBS; BYU-USC; Duke-S. Car; WVU-UVA
Third Round
UCLA-USC; Duke-UVA
Quarters
UCLA-UVA
UNC Bracket
1st Round Winners/2nd Round Matchups
UF - Miami; Wash.-Tx A&M; Missouri-Memphis; Charlotte-UNC
3rd Round
UF-Wash.; Missouri - UNC
Quarters
UF-UNC
FINAL FOUR
UND - Stanford; UCLA - UNC
FINAL
Stanford-UNC
CHAMPION
Stanford
Notre Dame is really, really good. They are good tactically. They have skilled, fast players. But they can also get after you and grind the daylights out of you. They can finesse you and score goals, or they can ram the ball down your throat and score goals.
UCLA is UCLA. They are fast, and thy are tall. They play some good soccer despite some occasional sloppy passing. You better play fast against these folks or you will be toast.
UNC is the perennial powerhouse. For them, winning the College Cup equals a successful season, anything else is a failure. They have US National teamers who you'd better contain or you will be in a hole, futilely chasing the game.
Stanford is probably the best pure soccer-side in the entire tournament. They have loads of flamboyant firepower up front. Top to bottom they have the best strikers in the country. Their a-mids can kill you, too.
Notre Dame Bracket
First Round Winners/2nd Round Matchups
UND-MSU; Minn-Col; BC-NEastern; Auburn-FSU
3rd Round
UND-Col; BC-FSU
Quarters
UND-FSU
Stanford Bracket
1st Round Winners/2nd Round Matchups
UP-Wash St.; UGA-WFU; OSU-Rutg; Den-Stanford
3rd Round
UP-WFU; Rutgers-Stanford
Quarters
UP-Stanford
UCLA Bracket
First Round Winners/2nd Round Matchups
UCLA-LBS; BYU-USC; Duke-S. Car; WVU-UVA
Third Round
UCLA-USC; Duke-UVA
Quarters
UCLA-UVA
UNC Bracket
1st Round Winners/2nd Round Matchups
UF - Miami; Wash.-Tx A&M; Missouri-Memphis; Charlotte-UNC
3rd Round
UF-Wash.; Missouri - UNC
Quarters
UF-UNC
FINAL FOUR
UND - Stanford; UCLA - UNC
FINAL
Stanford-UNC
CHAMPION
Stanford
Wednesday, November 5, 2008
Correction
I said in a previous post that the #1 seeds in the NCAA Womens' tourney would likely go only to conference winners. Further reading has revealed that RPI (a computer strength rating index) is a heavy determiner of the seeding. Stanford was, according to the Pac-10 website, a #1 seed last year even though they did not win the Pac-10.
Seeding isn't everything, anyway. But it is important.
Seeding isn't everything, anyway. But it is important.
Tuesday, November 4, 2008
Some Good (Old) DC United Stuff
Some fond memories about the most successful and decorated soccer club in the history of the United States.
The first home goal, from 1996.
"Campeones, campeones, Ole! Ole! Ole!"
The first home goal, from 1996.
"Campeones, campeones, Ole! Ole! Ole!"
A Certain Someone
... has offered a tongue-in-cheek list of suggestions to our gridiron fan friends for making their game more appealing to an international audience.
Monday, November 3, 2008
Report from Hoo-Country
We loaded up the van and headed down the road to Charlottesville last Friday night for the tilt between the Maryland and Virginia.
The CR did his best to ruin the match by issuing, well, a Straight Red Hat-Trick. First to go was a Maryland player who was sent of for a cynical tackle that took the man as well as the ball. It merited a warning at most. Then some minutes later came a make-up call against a Virginia midfielder who pushed a Maryland player. Then another Virginia player is sent off for I have no idea what.
All that aside, Maryland was clearly and to a man the better team, and came out on top of the score sheet by a 2-1 margin.
This is the weakest UVA team I have seen in a long time. It seems George Gelnovatch's recruiting results are waning. In recent years you would see players on the roster from all over the country -- top players from soccer hotbeds such as New York, North New Jersey areas, Texas, Florida, and top talent from right here in Virginia. Now the roster is heavily weighted with players from Virginia. Virginia produces many good players, but not many great players. To get a roster full of great plyers, you have to cast a wide net. It seems that net was light going in to this year.
The CR did his best to ruin the match by issuing, well, a Straight Red Hat-Trick. First to go was a Maryland player who was sent of for a cynical tackle that took the man as well as the ball. It merited a warning at most. Then some minutes later came a make-up call against a Virginia midfielder who pushed a Maryland player. Then another Virginia player is sent off for I have no idea what.
All that aside, Maryland was clearly and to a man the better team, and came out on top of the score sheet by a 2-1 margin.
This is the weakest UVA team I have seen in a long time. It seems George Gelnovatch's recruiting results are waning. In recent years you would see players on the roster from all over the country -- top players from soccer hotbeds such as New York, North New Jersey areas, Texas, Florida, and top talent from right here in Virginia. Now the roster is heavily weighted with players from Virginia. Virginia produces many good players, but not many great players. To get a roster full of great plyers, you have to cast a wide net. It seems that net was light going in to this year.
The View from Base Camp
Well, the Stanford Womens Soccer team has made it to base camp.
The problem is, UCLA, by virtue of their 1-0 defeat of Stanford last Friday, arrived there first, thus getting all the best shelters, and have all but secured the most favorable passage to the summit that is the College Cup trophy. UCLA has essentially won the Pac-10, and thus has virtually assured itself of a top seed going in to the NCAAs.
Stanford is still well-positioned, but likely will have to take a steeper path to the rarified air of that same podium; one rife with obstacles such as the ice walls of having to play at altitude, and the crevasses of having to play strong teams in neutral or hostile venues and conditions.
Only if Stanford wins it all will they have established themslves as an elite program. Another crash-out in the lowly second round will cement its status as a bottle-rocket for at least another year.
There was no video of the SU - UCLA match, and the match reports have been very sketchy. But reading between the lines it sounds as if UCLA clogged the midfield with such success that Stanford had no penetration up the middle to speak of, and were marginalized to the flanks, where they won corners but little else. Not only that, but word is Stanford's defenders coughed the ball up repeatedly in their defensive third, which if true makes it a miracle that Stanford did not get shredded for more goals.
A #1 seed in the NCAAs is unlikely for Stanford. The #1 seeds will likely go to major conference winners such as UNC of the ACC, Notre Dame of the Big East, Florida of the SEC, and UCLA of the Pac-10.
All that said, there is not a soccer team in this country that Stanford cannot beat, including UCLA.
From here on out, Stanford needs to remember the lesson from the Philadelphia Flyers and go out and win soccer games.
The problem is, UCLA, by virtue of their 1-0 defeat of Stanford last Friday, arrived there first, thus getting all the best shelters, and have all but secured the most favorable passage to the summit that is the College Cup trophy. UCLA has essentially won the Pac-10, and thus has virtually assured itself of a top seed going in to the NCAAs.
Stanford is still well-positioned, but likely will have to take a steeper path to the rarified air of that same podium; one rife with obstacles such as the ice walls of having to play at altitude, and the crevasses of having to play strong teams in neutral or hostile venues and conditions.
Only if Stanford wins it all will they have established themslves as an elite program. Another crash-out in the lowly second round will cement its status as a bottle-rocket for at least another year.
There was no video of the SU - UCLA match, and the match reports have been very sketchy. But reading between the lines it sounds as if UCLA clogged the midfield with such success that Stanford had no penetration up the middle to speak of, and were marginalized to the flanks, where they won corners but little else. Not only that, but word is Stanford's defenders coughed the ball up repeatedly in their defensive third, which if true makes it a miracle that Stanford did not get shredded for more goals.
A #1 seed in the NCAAs is unlikely for Stanford. The #1 seeds will likely go to major conference winners such as UNC of the ACC, Notre Dame of the Big East, Florida of the SEC, and UCLA of the Pac-10.
All that said, there is not a soccer team in this country that Stanford cannot beat, including UCLA.
From here on out, Stanford needs to remember the lesson from the Philadelphia Flyers and go out and win soccer games.
Thursday, October 30, 2008
One MONSTER Goal
This was posted on the Stanford Womens team thread on bigsoccer. This goal by Stanford's Lindsay Taylor was absolutely ridiculous, in a good way. Have a look ~
I don't watch a lot of womens' soccer, but I have watched a fair number of games from college to the Women's World Cup and Olympics. This is the best goal I have ever seen scored in women's soccer, and that includes comparing this to some killer strikes by Michelle Akers in her prime. Frankly, it is one of the nicest goals I have ever seen in ANY soccer.
Others have commented on LT's nice footwork before striking the ball. And of course, they are right, it was world class.
I am even more impressed by the strike itself, though. If you look closely at the video, you'll see (though not very well due to the distance and angle of the video) that she not only got tons of power on the ball, but it had a monster swerve as well. She "bent it like Beckham" right into the upper 90 from absolutely downtown. The 'keeper, who correctly was sliding over to her right post as LT was winding up to shoot, still had absolutely NO CHANCE despite cheating over as far as she did. A sublime strike, as nice as you will see anywhere in soccer at any level.
This goal reminds me a lot of the one Preki, playing for the USA Mens National Team used to beat mighty Brazil in the '98 Gold Cup. Preki put a similar move on his defender and then unleashes a swerving, dipping cannon-shot that the flying Taffarel could not touch. The swerve on LT's ball looked similar to what Preki put on his, though Preki's had a little more of a screwball-like dip.
Here is a video of Preki's goal. This is a longer version than what I posted on bigsoccer, and it shows Preki's shot from more than one angle.
The reverse angle shows the swerve/dip very nicely. LT hit a very similar ball, and from further out. Incredible.
I don't watch a lot of womens' soccer, but I have watched a fair number of games from college to the Women's World Cup and Olympics. This is the best goal I have ever seen scored in women's soccer, and that includes comparing this to some killer strikes by Michelle Akers in her prime. Frankly, it is one of the nicest goals I have ever seen in ANY soccer.
Others have commented on LT's nice footwork before striking the ball. And of course, they are right, it was world class.
I am even more impressed by the strike itself, though. If you look closely at the video, you'll see (though not very well due to the distance and angle of the video) that she not only got tons of power on the ball, but it had a monster swerve as well. She "bent it like Beckham" right into the upper 90 from absolutely downtown. The 'keeper, who correctly was sliding over to her right post as LT was winding up to shoot, still had absolutely NO CHANCE despite cheating over as far as she did. A sublime strike, as nice as you will see anywhere in soccer at any level.
This goal reminds me a lot of the one Preki, playing for the USA Mens National Team used to beat mighty Brazil in the '98 Gold Cup. Preki put a similar move on his defender and then unleashes a swerving, dipping cannon-shot that the flying Taffarel could not touch. The swerve on LT's ball looked similar to what Preki put on his, though Preki's had a little more of a screwball-like dip.
Here is a video of Preki's goal. This is a longer version than what I posted on bigsoccer, and it shows Preki's shot from more than one angle.
The reverse angle shows the swerve/dip very nicely. LT hit a very similar ball, and from further out. Incredible.
Wednesday, October 29, 2008
Title Tilt: Stanford's Keys to the UCLA Match
The national college soccer polls, ranking Stanford ahead of UCLA, are a synthesis of opinion. So what?
Stanford will need to be at their best to beat UCLA on the road.
UCLA will likely try to clog the middle with a high-pressure 3-5-2 or maybe even a 3-6-1 formation. The objective will be to force Stanford to bypass their midfield with long balls out of the back. UCLA can defend those long balls all day long and would look for the quick counter, having nullified Stanford's speed and tactical acumen.
Thus, Stanford will need to stay patient, play their game, and use their skill and creativity to unlock the UCLA defense. It may take most of the first hour or more to do it, but do it they can. Simply put, if Stanford gives up and resorts to bootball to overcome UCLA's inevitable midfield pressure they will not win this match.
Stanford will need to use speed and incisive runs on the flanks to stretch the field horizontally. They need their strikers and a-mids to *run at people*. They need to make UCLA foul in their defensive third. Sanford will need to make *judicious* use of long balls and through-balls up the middle from the midfield to stretch the field vertically, serving balls for O'Hara to run onto to terrorize the UCLA backline. The emphasis is of course on the word "judicious", since Stanford's main attack strategy will need to be playing the feet of ther strikers and a-mids and having them run at people, lay off precision passes, and shoot, shoot, shoot!
Defensively, Stanford needs to Pressure. The. Ball. One thing UCLA did with amazing regularity in their game against USC was to make lazy, off-target and often ill-advised passes which went straight to USC. It seemed like UCLA spent half the game passing the ball to USC. Fortunately for UCLA, USC spent at least that much time giving the ball right back to UCLA. I was amazed watching two elite sides making pass after pass after pass that lacked pace, precision, or both. With good pressure, this is something Stanford can exploit.
Other than horrific defensive mental errors, one other key reason USC lost to UCLA was USC simply took too much time to shoot in and near the box. Taking the extra touch to set up the perfect strike is nice in theory, but good defenders get in front and block it every time, which UCLA did with the exception of the goal they gave up. In womens' soccer there seems to be a general reluctance to one-timing or shooting on the full volley. USC blew several chances by foregoing clear volley opportunites inside the box in favor of taking extra time and teeing it up and shooting. Stanford, if you have a chance at a shot on the full or half volley in the box against UCLA, have a go. Dilly-dally and UCLA will close you down every time.
Stanford will need to be at their best to beat UCLA on the road.
UCLA will likely try to clog the middle with a high-pressure 3-5-2 or maybe even a 3-6-1 formation. The objective will be to force Stanford to bypass their midfield with long balls out of the back. UCLA can defend those long balls all day long and would look for the quick counter, having nullified Stanford's speed and tactical acumen.
Thus, Stanford will need to stay patient, play their game, and use their skill and creativity to unlock the UCLA defense. It may take most of the first hour or more to do it, but do it they can. Simply put, if Stanford gives up and resorts to bootball to overcome UCLA's inevitable midfield pressure they will not win this match.
Stanford will need to use speed and incisive runs on the flanks to stretch the field horizontally. They need their strikers and a-mids to *run at people*. They need to make UCLA foul in their defensive third. Sanford will need to make *judicious* use of long balls and through-balls up the middle from the midfield to stretch the field vertically, serving balls for O'Hara to run onto to terrorize the UCLA backline. The emphasis is of course on the word "judicious", since Stanford's main attack strategy will need to be playing the feet of ther strikers and a-mids and having them run at people, lay off precision passes, and shoot, shoot, shoot!
Defensively, Stanford needs to Pressure. The. Ball. One thing UCLA did with amazing regularity in their game against USC was to make lazy, off-target and often ill-advised passes which went straight to USC. It seemed like UCLA spent half the game passing the ball to USC. Fortunately for UCLA, USC spent at least that much time giving the ball right back to UCLA. I was amazed watching two elite sides making pass after pass after pass that lacked pace, precision, or both. With good pressure, this is something Stanford can exploit.
Other than horrific defensive mental errors, one other key reason USC lost to UCLA was USC simply took too much time to shoot in and near the box. Taking the extra touch to set up the perfect strike is nice in theory, but good defenders get in front and block it every time, which UCLA did with the exception of the goal they gave up. In womens' soccer there seems to be a general reluctance to one-timing or shooting on the full volley. USC blew several chances by foregoing clear volley opportunites inside the box in favor of taking extra time and teeing it up and shooting. Stanford, if you have a chance at a shot on the full or half volley in the box against UCLA, have a go. Dilly-dally and UCLA will close you down every time.
Stanford at Base Camp
My wife and I went to Mount Rainier on an anniversary trip last month. The Paradise area of Mount Rainier is one of the best places to hike on Planet Earth. One of the more aggressive hiking trails there (which I can assure you we did not attempt) is the 9-mile trail up 4600 feet of mountain elevation to Camp Muir. Camp Muir is is the base camp used by elite hiker/climbers who will continue on the dangerous ascent to the summit at 14,410 feet.
With three matches to go in the regular season, the Stanford Womens' Soccer team is almost to base camp. Stanford has won all their games by lopsided scores, save for the tie against theUS National Team UNC Tar Heels. But all that is just trail at their back now. They still have not done anything but have a good regular season.
To get to base camp, the Card needs to beat UCLA in what is effectively the Pac-10 title game this friday. Of course, if the Card does win at UCLA, that does not necessarily mean they'll win the Pac-10. If Stanford were to turn around and lose against USC and then Cal, the Pac-10 would likely go to UCLA. But Stanford needs to look at this next match against UCLA as the match for all the marbles.
To lay claim to having achieved the status of an elite program, and to set the stage for a serious assault on the summit of a national championship instead of flaming out in the early going of the NCAAs, Stanford absolutely, positively must beat UCLA.
The question is, how?
Stay tuned.
With three matches to go in the regular season, the Stanford Womens' Soccer team is almost to base camp. Stanford has won all their games by lopsided scores, save for the tie against the
To get to base camp, the Card needs to beat UCLA in what is effectively the Pac-10 title game this friday. Of course, if the Card does win at UCLA, that does not necessarily mean they'll win the Pac-10. If Stanford were to turn around and lose against USC and then Cal, the Pac-10 would likely go to UCLA. But Stanford needs to look at this next match against UCLA as the match for all the marbles.
To lay claim to having achieved the status of an elite program, and to set the stage for a serious assault on the summit of a national championship instead of flaming out in the early going of the NCAAs, Stanford absolutely, positively must beat UCLA.
The question is, how?
Stay tuned.
DC United Season Wrap-up
This season can be broken up into thirds.
For roughly the first third of the season, nothing went right as DC United tried to integrate a boatload of new players. Complicating matters was our goalkeeper, Zach Wells, who struggled in the early days to acclimate himself to starting in MLS and let in easy goals.
Then, in the middle "third", that is, June and early July, DCU began to click, played some wonderful soccer, and won a lot of games.
Then came the final "third" of the season where we got bit by the injury bug, an overly congested calendar, and some unlucky breaks and simply lost too many games to get into the playoffs.
Here is what needs to happen in the offseason.
1) Get Jaime Moreno healthy and fit for his last year in MLS.
2) Get Gallardo, Peralta, Olsen, Fred, Emilio, and everybody else healthy and fit.
3) Add some defensive depth. Aquiring Janicki was a good first step. But we need a dominating central defender in the mold of Eddie Pope or Ryan Nelsen. Peralta when healthy might be adequate, but if an upgrade at that position is available, I say trade and go for it.
4) Get a better backup 'keeper who is going to push Crayton hard for playing time. Crayon is good, but needs hard competition on the training ground to be his sharpest.
5) Keep Tom Soehn. He wasn't perfect, but he showed he can coach and win games when he has healthy players. Give him another year.
6) Make the defensive midfield play every game like the one they played against Columbus the last game of the season. I haven't seen DC United pressure the ball and close down passing lanes like that since the late 90's.
7) Play the reserves in all nonleague midweek games. These superligas and Open Cups don't mean a hill of beans. Case in point -- this season we actually WON the US Open Cup, but the players, media, and internet fan sites all consider this season a failure. Winning the US Open Cup was not even a consolation prize. So if winning such "Cups" mean nothing, neither do losing them. Send the reserves out for these matches. If THEY win, it'll mean something to them.
With some well-targeted adjustments and some relief from the injury bug, DC United should be in good shape for a serious run at the MLS Cup.
For roughly the first third of the season, nothing went right as DC United tried to integrate a boatload of new players. Complicating matters was our goalkeeper, Zach Wells, who struggled in the early days to acclimate himself to starting in MLS and let in easy goals.
Then, in the middle "third", that is, June and early July, DCU began to click, played some wonderful soccer, and won a lot of games.
Then came the final "third" of the season where we got bit by the injury bug, an overly congested calendar, and some unlucky breaks and simply lost too many games to get into the playoffs.
Here is what needs to happen in the offseason.
1) Get Jaime Moreno healthy and fit for his last year in MLS.
2) Get Gallardo, Peralta, Olsen, Fred, Emilio, and everybody else healthy and fit.
3) Add some defensive depth. Aquiring Janicki was a good first step. But we need a dominating central defender in the mold of Eddie Pope or Ryan Nelsen. Peralta when healthy might be adequate, but if an upgrade at that position is available, I say trade and go for it.
4) Get a better backup 'keeper who is going to push Crayton hard for playing time. Crayon is good, but needs hard competition on the training ground to be his sharpest.
5) Keep Tom Soehn. He wasn't perfect, but he showed he can coach and win games when he has healthy players. Give him another year.
6) Make the defensive midfield play every game like the one they played against Columbus the last game of the season. I haven't seen DC United pressure the ball and close down passing lanes like that since the late 90's.
7) Play the reserves in all nonleague midweek games. These superligas and Open Cups don't mean a hill of beans. Case in point -- this season we actually WON the US Open Cup, but the players, media, and internet fan sites all consider this season a failure. Winning the US Open Cup was not even a consolation prize. So if winning such "Cups" mean nothing, neither do losing them. Send the reserves out for these matches. If THEY win, it'll mean something to them.
With some well-targeted adjustments and some relief from the injury bug, DC United should be in good shape for a serious run at the MLS Cup.
Wednesday, September 24, 2008
A Lesson for the Stanford Women's Soccer Team from the Phildelphia Flyers
I don't follow hockey anymore, but last NHL season I couldn't help but to notice the tremendous turnaround made by our local Washington Capitals team. By late November, it appeared their season was in the tank. Coach Genn Hanlon was let go on Thanksgiving Day of all days.
The Caps brought in Bruce Boudreau as their new coach, who I believe has turned out to be the finest hockey man in the NHL coaching ranks since Scotty Bowman. The Caps went on a tear almost from the get-go of the new coach's tenure. The Capitals improbably won their division on the last day of the regular season, after playing stretches of dazzling hockey.
In the playoffs, the Capitals drew their old nemesis, the Phildelphia Flyers in the first round. The Flyers went to a 3-1 advantage in the best-of-seven series. The Flyers were not as skilled as the Capitals, but what they lacked in skills they made up for in toughness and a willingness to fight for every puck, and to pressure, pressure, pressure when they were on defense, and to hit the stuffing out of anything that moved. The Caps responded with some toughness of their own, but with Alex Ovechkin leading the way, the Caps out-hockeyed the Flyers to roar back to tie the series at 3 games apiece and force game 7.
The Flyers', (or rather Broad Street Bullies') grit proved too much for the Caps, though, and the Caps lost the series 4 games to 3; closing out a still-wondrous season.
A Flyers fan, interviewed by Dan Steinberg of the Washington Post, said of the Caps, "You guys came in [to this series] a bunch of figure skaters in pads and helmets. We taught you to fight and play hockey like men. You're welcome."
I think of that Flyer fan's assessment when I think about the Stanford women's soccer team. The Cardinal has as much or more soccer talent, skills, crisp passing and savvy movement as any women's soccer club in the country.
But will they fight, scrap, and claw for every loose ball? Will they pressure, pressure, pressure the ball all over the field when on defense? Will they deliver, time and again, the hard, crunching (but within the rules) tackles that will knock equally talented opponents off their game? Will Stanford do the grunt work that will break them out of the pack of excellent soccer teams and onto the podium of the National Champion?
All I can tell you is they have what it takes.
You're welcome.
The Caps brought in Bruce Boudreau as their new coach, who I believe has turned out to be the finest hockey man in the NHL coaching ranks since Scotty Bowman. The Caps went on a tear almost from the get-go of the new coach's tenure. The Capitals improbably won their division on the last day of the regular season, after playing stretches of dazzling hockey.
In the playoffs, the Capitals drew their old nemesis, the Phildelphia Flyers in the first round. The Flyers went to a 3-1 advantage in the best-of-seven series. The Flyers were not as skilled as the Capitals, but what they lacked in skills they made up for in toughness and a willingness to fight for every puck, and to pressure, pressure, pressure when they were on defense, and to hit the stuffing out of anything that moved. The Caps responded with some toughness of their own, but with Alex Ovechkin leading the way, the Caps out-hockeyed the Flyers to roar back to tie the series at 3 games apiece and force game 7.
The Flyers', (or rather Broad Street Bullies') grit proved too much for the Caps, though, and the Caps lost the series 4 games to 3; closing out a still-wondrous season.
A Flyers fan, interviewed by Dan Steinberg of the Washington Post, said of the Caps, "You guys came in [to this series] a bunch of figure skaters in pads and helmets. We taught you to fight and play hockey like men. You're welcome."
I think of that Flyer fan's assessment when I think about the Stanford women's soccer team. The Cardinal has as much or more soccer talent, skills, crisp passing and savvy movement as any women's soccer club in the country.
But will they fight, scrap, and claw for every loose ball? Will they pressure, pressure, pressure the ball all over the field when on defense? Will they deliver, time and again, the hard, crunching (but within the rules) tackles that will knock equally talented opponents off their game? Will Stanford do the grunt work that will break them out of the pack of excellent soccer teams and onto the podium of the National Champion?
All I can tell you is they have what it takes.
You're welcome.
Tuesday, September 23, 2008
Thoughts on the Stanford Women's Team
I don't follow women's soccer that much, but a friend of mine follows this team closely so I started to keep track of their doings.
Stanford is a team with loads and loads of talent and athleticism at every position. They are tactically very sophisticated. I really believe top to bottom they have the best strikers in the nation. I was amazed as Stanford made UNC, of all teams, look slow and flat-footed for much of the second half of the recent match between the two sides.
The problem with Stanford historically is they tend to tire as they get well into the meat of their conference schedule, especially when they have to travel. They try with some success to get a second wind going into the conference tourney, but then by the time the NCAAs roll around they are pretty much spent, and they crash out in the early going. That, to me, goes to conditioning, which implicates the coaching. Coupled with some questionable substition patterns, and some mystifying bootball tactics that seem to surface when the going gets tough, and there are thus real question marks in the coaching department.
We'll know if these coaching issues are resolved if the team is stronger once they have gotten through most of their conference schedule.
This team has more than enough talent barring injuries to win their conference, and there is no reason personnel-wise they can't get to the College Cup ("Final Four")and win the thing.
I've said it before and I'll say it again. They have the players to get it done. But do they have what it takes behind the training-ground whistle, and in the coaches' area at the games?
Stanford is a team with loads and loads of talent and athleticism at every position. They are tactically very sophisticated. I really believe top to bottom they have the best strikers in the nation. I was amazed as Stanford made UNC, of all teams, look slow and flat-footed for much of the second half of the recent match between the two sides.
The problem with Stanford historically is they tend to tire as they get well into the meat of their conference schedule, especially when they have to travel. They try with some success to get a second wind going into the conference tourney, but then by the time the NCAAs roll around they are pretty much spent, and they crash out in the early going. That, to me, goes to conditioning, which implicates the coaching. Coupled with some questionable substition patterns, and some mystifying bootball tactics that seem to surface when the going gets tough, and there are thus real question marks in the coaching department.
We'll know if these coaching issues are resolved if the team is stronger once they have gotten through most of their conference schedule.
This team has more than enough talent barring injuries to win their conference, and there is no reason personnel-wise they can't get to the College Cup ("Final Four")and win the thing.
I've said it before and I'll say it again. They have the players to get it done. But do they have what it takes behind the training-ground whistle, and in the coaches' area at the games?
Monday, August 4, 2008
DCU Does it Again
Another grand and glorious win for DC United.
Both DCU goals were just exquisite. You will not find better highlight-reel goals in any league anywhere in the world. Check out the video highlights at mlsnet.com.
Our new flank player, Guerrero, is a fine pickup. Thank you, San Jose. The guy was a monster on the flank, both offensively and defensively, all night long. He wins a 50-50 ball. in the air, from a taller player, feeds Jaime, who in turn threads a gorgeous diagonal ball to Emilio for the money and a 1-0 scoreline for the good guys.
Joe Vide, former UVA man returned from exile, played great, I thought. He played with heart, and fought to the end for the shirt. In his *first game* for the Black and Red. Was a bit lucky not to see red on his second half challenge. But hey, that kind of thing is avoidable with some coaching, which he will get under Tommy.
Zach Wells. What can I say, other than I like my crow with salt, pepper, AND ketchup. And, of course, a Diet Coke to wash it down and make the calories go away. I was a harsh critic of Zach wells in the early going of this campaign, but the guy gets better each game. He got his clean sheet, having come up with some game-saving stops.
Speaking of eating crow, I have got to say Tommy did a nice job of coaching. He has the team well-prepared, even in the face of several core starters being out.
Jaime Moreno. What can I say. This guy is the king of calcio-coolness. He has got soccer-mojo and massive futbol gravitas in spades. What he has lost in pace he has more than made up for in craftiness. KC made the mistake of marking him with a single player early in the game. I remember commenting directly to my TV set early in the match, (the TV of course agreed completely with my analysis) that KC was in trouble if they didn't put more defenders on him. Then comes the nice assist to Emilio. Not coincidentally KC double and triple teamed Moreno the rest of the night. No matter, Jaime later scores on a lovely header, and almost had another off a through-ball in the box.
I am a bit suprised by KC's form of the last several weeks. Here is a team that does not have a single bad player in its first 11 (I hate using Roman numerals). They are very fit, and they have good chemistry. They are just not scoring. They were a bit unlucky against us. Onalfo needs to turn things around.
For more on DCU and MLS, you can't miss Steve Goff's blog.
Both DCU goals were just exquisite. You will not find better highlight-reel goals in any league anywhere in the world. Check out the video highlights at mlsnet.com.
Our new flank player, Guerrero, is a fine pickup. Thank you, San Jose. The guy was a monster on the flank, both offensively and defensively, all night long. He wins a 50-50 ball. in the air, from a taller player, feeds Jaime, who in turn threads a gorgeous diagonal ball to Emilio for the money and a 1-0 scoreline for the good guys.
Joe Vide, former UVA man returned from exile, played great, I thought. He played with heart, and fought to the end for the shirt. In his *first game* for the Black and Red. Was a bit lucky not to see red on his second half challenge. But hey, that kind of thing is avoidable with some coaching, which he will get under Tommy.
Zach Wells. What can I say, other than I like my crow with salt, pepper, AND ketchup. And, of course, a Diet Coke to wash it down and make the calories go away. I was a harsh critic of Zach wells in the early going of this campaign, but the guy gets better each game. He got his clean sheet, having come up with some game-saving stops.
Speaking of eating crow, I have got to say Tommy did a nice job of coaching. He has the team well-prepared, even in the face of several core starters being out.
Jaime Moreno. What can I say. This guy is the king of calcio-coolness. He has got soccer-mojo and massive futbol gravitas in spades. What he has lost in pace he has more than made up for in craftiness. KC made the mistake of marking him with a single player early in the game. I remember commenting directly to my TV set early in the match, (the TV of course agreed completely with my analysis) that KC was in trouble if they didn't put more defenders on him. Then comes the nice assist to Emilio. Not coincidentally KC double and triple teamed Moreno the rest of the night. No matter, Jaime later scores on a lovely header, and almost had another off a through-ball in the box.
I am a bit suprised by KC's form of the last several weeks. Here is a team that does not have a single bad player in its first 11 (I hate using Roman numerals). They are very fit, and they have good chemistry. They are just not scoring. They were a bit unlucky against us. Onalfo needs to turn things around.
For more on DCU and MLS, you can't miss Steve Goff's blog.
Tuesday, July 29, 2008
Weekly Howler
Now *this* is a major goalkeeping gaffe!
The poor keeper here just had a mind meltdown, forgot to play the bounce, and over his head it went.
This reminds me of a soccer match I went to around 1975. Kurt Kuykendall was in the net for the Washington Diplomats against, I believe, the Fort Lauderdale Strikers. He had a very stiff wind in his face. Kuykendall punted the ball, but mis-hit it, giving the ball a mean backspin and a stunted but almost vertical trajectory. The wind, even stiffer aloft, caught the ball and blew it right over Kuykendall's head and into his own goal.
The poor keeper here just had a mind meltdown, forgot to play the bounce, and over his head it went.
This reminds me of a soccer match I went to around 1975. Kurt Kuykendall was in the net for the Washington Diplomats against, I believe, the Fort Lauderdale Strikers. He had a very stiff wind in his face. Kuykendall punted the ball, but mis-hit it, giving the ball a mean backspin and a stunted but almost vertical trajectory. The wind, even stiffer aloft, caught the ball and blew it right over Kuykendall's head and into his own goal.
Tuesday, July 15, 2008
Turns Out I was Right (part 2)
Well, I am probably close to being right, since nothing has officially happened yet on the Chivas USA front. For those who don't know, I have been saying for some time that Chivas USA, which the last couple years has been such a spectacular flop at the gate (despite playing some good soccer) that they are in danger of being relocated.
Well, MLS insider Not Doug Logan is hearing rumblings from those in the know that there will likely be relocation for CUSA sooner rather than later for that side if they don't develop some fan interest.
Other than a couple recent games Chivas USA when playing at home has been playing in front of maybe 1000 fans and 26,000 empty seats at Home Depot Center. An embarassment to MLS.
Well, MLS insider Not Doug Logan is hearing rumblings from those in the know that there will likely be relocation for CUSA sooner rather than later for that side if they don't develop some fan interest.
Other than a couple recent games Chivas USA when playing at home has been playing in front of maybe 1000 fans and 26,000 empty seats at Home Depot Center. An embarassment to MLS.
Wednesday, July 2, 2008
Turns out I was right
... about Emilio. The guy is scoring goals at a torrid pace, and is in the hunt for the Golden Boot lead. I am not surprised.
His slump was due primarily to the fact that early in the season he was getting late service with his back to the goal and not uncommonly two or three defenders draped all over him.
NOW, he is getting service while on the move toward and near or in the box. And he has been burying his chances in "the back of the old onion bag" with regularity ever since.
Some of that is due to Emilio's improved movement off the ball, most is due to better play, anticipation, and service by the midfielders.
So, DC United is playing some nice soccer now. But we need to improve our backline, improve our goalkeeping, and get better play from the flanks to get another MLS Cup.
Speaking of goalkeeping, I have been a harsh critic of Zach Wells. But I have to admit he is improving. I watched the LA game (DVR'd the Sunday broadcast) on Monday night and Wells had some nice stops and his positioning was better. The goal was more the fault of Peralta, who whiffed on his clearance, than Wells, who was a bit late off his line but for good reason -- he had to cover the far post first because it appeared the ball would squirt to Buddle's left.
I still like Peralta better than many on Bigsoccer do. He is an improvement over Boswell, and I think he will get even better as he and the team continue to gel.
~ Ron
His slump was due primarily to the fact that early in the season he was getting late service with his back to the goal and not uncommonly two or three defenders draped all over him.
NOW, he is getting service while on the move toward and near or in the box. And he has been burying his chances in "the back of the old onion bag" with regularity ever since.
Some of that is due to Emilio's improved movement off the ball, most is due to better play, anticipation, and service by the midfielders.
So, DC United is playing some nice soccer now. But we need to improve our backline, improve our goalkeeping, and get better play from the flanks to get another MLS Cup.
Speaking of goalkeeping, I have been a harsh critic of Zach Wells. But I have to admit he is improving. I watched the LA game (DVR'd the Sunday broadcast) on Monday night and Wells had some nice stops and his positioning was better. The goal was more the fault of Peralta, who whiffed on his clearance, than Wells, who was a bit late off his line but for good reason -- he had to cover the far post first because it appeared the ball would squirt to Buddle's left.
I still like Peralta better than many on Bigsoccer do. He is an improvement over Boswell, and I think he will get even better as he and the team continue to gel.
~ Ron
Monday, April 21, 2008
Don Garber Speakszzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz....
The Don has a new blog on MLSNet.
Right now it reads like decrees sent down engraved in stone from Mount Olympus, in the form of text cut-and-pasted from old speeches.
I like Don Garber. He has done a good job growing the league. And he believes in the Game.
But, why have a high-visibility blog if you are only going to post *if possible* once every two weeks? And why just give us warmed over stuff from Chamber of Commerce speeches?
For now, I'll keep an open mind and keep reading.
But my hope is the Don will talk *to* us, not talk *down to* us.
Right now it reads like decrees sent down engraved in stone from Mount Olympus, in the form of text cut-and-pasted from old speeches.
I like Don Garber. He has done a good job growing the league. And he believes in the Game.
But, why have a high-visibility blog if you are only going to post *if possible* once every two weeks? And why just give us warmed over stuff from Chamber of Commerce speeches?
For now, I'll keep an open mind and keep reading.
But my hope is the Don will talk *to* us, not talk *down to* us.
Thursday, April 17, 2008
DCU - Columbus Aforethoughts
Hmmm. Gonzalo Martinez is out, depriving us of a lot of speed and skill on the backline. Stick Burch over there. He should do OK.
A lot of people on bigsoccer are really ragging on Emilio. I don't understand why. The guy scores in the second minute against Toronto, and a few minutes later launches a Preki-like Bomb from outside the box after a beautiful chop move. True, he clanged it off the crossbar but that seque3nce led directly to a rebound and goal. We were up 2-0 over Toronto before they even knew what hit them, all becuase of Emilio. Also true he could have had more goals, but that is how strikers are. I remember Romario didn't bury 100% of his chances, either. Give me a break. Emilio will be fine. The goals will come.
I also really like Gallardo. He reminds me of a combination of Marco Etcheverry and Christian Gomez. The guy can play. He is worth the DP money.
I am glad Kpene is gone. He just didn't have it. I just never saw what others saw in him.
Should be an interesting evening for one Mrs. Carroll. Two of her sons are with DC United, and one plays for Columbus.
A lot of people on bigsoccer are really ragging on Emilio. I don't understand why. The guy scores in the second minute against Toronto, and a few minutes later launches a Preki-like Bomb from outside the box after a beautiful chop move. True, he clanged it off the crossbar but that seque3nce led directly to a rebound and goal. We were up 2-0 over Toronto before they even knew what hit them, all becuase of Emilio. Also true he could have had more goals, but that is how strikers are. I remember Romario didn't bury 100% of his chances, either. Give me a break. Emilio will be fine. The goals will come.
I also really like Gallardo. He reminds me of a combination of Marco Etcheverry and Christian Gomez. The guy can play. He is worth the DP money.
I am glad Kpene is gone. He just didn't have it. I just never saw what others saw in him.
Should be an interesting evening for one Mrs. Carroll. Two of her sons are with DC United, and one plays for Columbus.
Friday, April 11, 2008
Thursday, April 10, 2008
Welcome to Straight Red Hat Trick ...
... our new blog dedicated to all things soccer/futbol, from the fan's vantage point of the most successful, the most storied, the most trophy-laden soccer club in the history of the United States,
DC United.
We'll also comment on MLS, World Club, as well as National Team soccer. How's that for starters?
Well, this isn't really starters, since this blog is taking over where our old blog, Three FrontRunners left off. We want to morph to this blog because, well, I like the name better.
Hopefully we can figure out how to migrate our posts.
DC United.
We'll also comment on MLS, World Club, as well as National Team soccer. How's that for starters?
Well, this isn't really starters, since this blog is taking over where our old blog, Three FrontRunners left off. We want to morph to this blog because, well, I like the name better.
Hopefully we can figure out how to migrate our posts.
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